Eagle, Idaho - If your household is like many across the country, laundry is one of the least favorite chores. But, a new online platform based right here in the Treasure Valley is hoping to take some of the pain out of the dreaded “rinse and repeat” cycle and help Idahoans make some extra cash, too.
“Londr” was founded by Idaho residents Stephen Nielsen and Benjamin Johnson, who hope their Eagle-based business will alleviate some people’s spin-dry dread by letting folks outsource their unmentionables. “Londr helps people solve their laundry problem by connecting people who need their laundry done with people who are available and willing to do it,” explains Nielsen.
It only takes a couple of clicks on the company’s website for people to send off their dirty clothes or bedding with a washer, who picks up, cleans, and folds the items, then delivers them right back to your doorstep, all within 24 hours.
Consumers are charged by the bag - it can be up to a 50-gallon one! - and it can be stuffed as full as you want with just about anything you want, though it’s up to the consumer what kinds of things you send off with your washer. Nielsen says, “One of the main questions we get asked is, do I have to send off my underwear? And we’re like no, if you don’t want to, don’t!”
If you’re particular about how your loads get done, Nielsen says Londr lets you be as picky as you please. “You can specify every last thing and we have a notice on there that says ‘washer, if you can’t meet these special requests, please don’t take the job.’”
And if you’d prefer to do the washing rather than have it done for you, Londr is great for gig workers looking to make an income without spending countless hours in their car. “A lot of gig economy jobs,” Nielsen says, “you’re driving somewhere, you’re sitting in your car, you’re out in a parking lot...and I think the genius of our idea is you can be at home, living your life, doing your thing, and you’re not out in a parking lot.”
Since its launch, Nielsen and Johnson say Londr has taken off nicely in Idaho, something they credit to the Gem State’s special fondness for small business. “The community here in the Treasure Valley is very kind,” says Johnson.
And with the ability to easily expand the Londr platform well beyond Idaho, the guys can’t wait to see what unfolds next. “There’s a lot of people who are excited to help us grow and I think that is a uniquely Idaho thing.”
All pick-ups and drop-offs through Londr are contact-free, though of course the washers do come into contact with the items they clean. If this is a concern during the ongoing pandemic, the guys at Londr recommend simply allowing the clean clothes to sit folded in the bag for a day or two before putting them away.
If you’re interested in learning more about being a Londr washer or consumer, check out their website here.
